Catheter wetting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A wetting apparatus ( 1 ) for wetting a hydrophilic urinary catheter ( 3 ), comprising: a wetting fluid container ( 4 ) containing a wetting fluid and being openable by the application of a pulling force thereto; a wetting receptacle ( 2 ); and a hydrophilic urinary catheter ( 3 ) to be wetted by said wetting fluid and being arranged within said wetting receptacle ( 2 ). The wetting fluid container ( 4 ) is arranged within the wetting receptacle ( 2 ), and the wetting receptacle is extendable, for opening the wetting container without rupturing a sealed condition of the wetting receptacle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a wetting apparatus for wettinga hydrophilic urinary catheter, comprising a wetting fluid containercontaining a wetting fluid and being openable by the application of apulling force thereto, a wetting receptacle and a hydrophilic urinarycatheter to be wetted by said wetting fluid and being arranged withinsaid wetting receptacle. The invention further relates to a method forwetting such a catheter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Intermittent self-catheterisation is widely employed by patientssuffering from for example strictures or traumas in the urinary systemas well as by paralysed patients to enable the patients to live a nearlynormal home life. Urinary catheters supplied for intermittentself-catheterisation in general need to have a lubricant applied to theouter surfaces thereof to facilitate insertion into the urethra.Especially, for lubrication purposes hydrophilic urinary catheters mayhave a hydrophilic outer surface coating which should be wetted by afluid such as water or saline for a certain time period prior toinsertion thereof into the urethra of a patient.

[0003] Various methods for lubricating urinary catheters have beenpreviously proposed, and e.g. the applicant's prior International patentapplication publication No. WO97/26937 discloses a wetting apparatus forwetting hydrophilic urinary catheters. This wetting apparatus comprisesa wetting receptacle, which defines a wetting fluid receiving area, ahydrophilic urinary catheter placed in said wetting fluid receivingarea, and a wetting fluid container. The wetting fluid container has adischarge outlet which could be opened by application of a pulling forcethereto to enable the wetting fluid to be discharged into the wettingfluid receiving area for wetting of the hydrophilic urinary catheter. Inthis wetting apparatus the receptacle has one open end, in which thefluid container is placed, and with one end protruding out of thereceptacle. Further, pulling tabs to apply the pulling force to thecontainer are arranged at each end of the fluid container. To releasethe fluid, the first pulling tab being inside the receptacle is grippedthrough the plastic material of the receptacle, and then the secondpulling tab being outside the receptacle is pulled rearwardly to causethe container to tear.

[0004] Further, a urinary catheter wetting apparatus comprising areceptacle and a rupturable liquid swelling medium pouch or containerbeing placed within the receptacle is known from WO 98/11932. Theswelling medium is discharged by applying pressure on the pouch andthereby forcing a rupture on the closure joint.

[0005] However, a problem with these known wetting apparatuses is thatthey are relatively difficult to handle, and especially the dischargingof the wetting fluid. Particularly disabled users, such as users withlimited capability of moving their limbs, have problems performing thedischarging actions needed. Furthermore, it is a problem that thewetting receptacle surrounding the catheter is either opened during thedischarge process, or is easily ruptured. This deteriorates thecleanness and sterility of the catheter. There is hereby also a risk forunwanted leakage and spillage of the wetting fluid, which could be veryinconvenient for the user.

[0006] Accordingly, patients using hydrophilic urinary catheters requireimproved means for lubricating the catheters. The present inventiontherefore proposes to address this requirement. This object is achievedwith the wetting apparatus and method according to the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided awetting apparatus for wetting a hydrophilic urinary catheter,comprising: a wetting fluid container containing a wetting fluid andbeing openable by the application of a pulling force thereto; a wettingreceptacle; and a hydrophilic urinary catheter to be wetted by saidwetting fluid and being arranged within said wetting receptacle, whereinthe wetting fluid container is arranged within and fixed to the wettingreceptacle, said apparatus being characterised in that the wettingreceptacle is extendable, enabling opening the wetting container withoutrupturing a sealed condition of the wetting receptacle.

[0008] Thus, according to the invention the wetting fluid container canbe opened and the catheter wetted by the application of a pulling forceto the extendable wetting receptacle, without destroying the sealedcondition of the wetting receptacle.

[0009] By “extendable” is meant that the dimension of the wettingreceptacle in a certain pulling direction could be increased withoutcausing damages or destruction to the receptacle to such an extent thatthe sealed condition of the receptacle is destroyed.

[0010] The pulling action for discharging the wetting fluid into thewetting receptacle is a very feasible action, since it is easy toperform and only requires a low pulling force to be exerted. Further,the pulling action could be performed with one hand only, or evenwithout hands, by using the teeth or the like. Thus, this dischargingmethod is suitable for disabled persons, or persons having one or bothhands occupied. Thanks to the extendable wetting receptacle thispreferred pulling action could be used for discharging the wettingfluid, at the same time as the wetting receptacle could be kept closedand sealed. Hereby, the sterility and cleanness of the catheter could bemaintained even during the wetting process, thus reducing the risk ofinfections for the user. The risk of unwanted leakage and spillage ofthe wetting liquid is also alleviated.

[0011] Preferably, the wetting fluid container is provided with at leasttwo pulling means for applying a pulling force for opening thecontainer.

[0012] By “pulling means” is meant any means providing a transfer of apulling force applied to the wetting receptacle to the wetting fluidcontainer, such as a portion of the container being fixed to thereceptacle.

[0013] Further, the wetting fluid container is preferably opened bypulling said pulling means apart in a separation direction, said wettingreceptacle being extendable at least in said separation direction. It isalso preferred that at least one of the pulling means, and preferablyboth, is a tab which on application of a predetermined pulling forcethereto causes the wetting fluid container to open. These featurescontribute in making the product simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the wetting fluidcontainer presents at least one surface area not being fixed to thewetting receptacle and, most preferably, the wetting fluid container isfixed to the wetting receptacle only in the vicinity of the pullingmeans. Hereby, as large a part of the wetting receptacle as possiblecould be used for providing the extendability. Further, the pullingmeans are preferably fixed to the wetting receptacle by means ofwelding. However, glue or tape could be used as fixation means as well.Hereby, the manufacture of the product becomes simple and inexpensive.

[0015] In one embodiment there is further provided pulling means on thewetting receptacle, such as pulling handles, to facilitate the openingprocedure, especially for disabled users.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the wettingreceptacle is at least partly formed of a stretchable material, enablingthe extendability of the receptacle. Said stretchable material could beat least partly elastic. However, a material enabling a plasticelongation of the receptacle could also be used.

[0017] According to another, preferred embodiment of the invention, thewetting receptacle has a surface layer of such dimension as to enablethe extendibility of the receptacle. Preferably the surface layer of thewetting receptacle has a dimension between the pulling means exceedingthe distance between the pulling means, when the wetting fluid containeris not opened, and most preferably the wetting receptacle comprises afolded section, such as a bellow-like folding.

[0018] Preferably, the wetting fluid container presents such arestricted dimension perpendicular to the pulling direction in whichsaid folded section is unfolded, that said unfolding is not restrictedby the wetting fluid container. Especially, it is preferred that thewetting receptacle, at said folded section has an inner, cross-sectionaldimension perpendicular to the direction of the extension of thereceptacle significantly exceeding the corresponding outer,cross-sectional dimension of the wetting fluid container. Thanks to thisincreased extension, unfoldment of the folded section becomes simple.

[0019] It is also preferred that the wetting fluid container comprisesan area of weakness, and preferably a tear line, which is opened on theapplication of the pulling force thereto.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention said area of weaknessin the wetting fluid container is arranged in a part of the containerfacing the catheter in the wetting receptacle. Further, it is mostpreferred that the wetting fluid container presents a forward edgefacing the catheter in the wetting receptacle; that the area of weaknessextends rearwardly from the forward edge; and that the wetting containercomprises two tabs of which a first tab extends rearwardly from theforward edge on a first side of the area of weakness and is of suchdimensions that it rearwardly projects beyond the wetting fluidcontainer, and of which a second tab extends forwardly from the forwardedge on a second, opposite side of the area of weakness; wherein theapplication of a rearward pulling force on the first tab relative to thesecond tab causes the area of weakness to tear and the wetting fluidcontainer to be opened.

[0021] This embodiment provides an area of weakness essentially alignedwith the catheter and thus with the elongation of the wetting apparatus,and the pulling direction also coincide with this direction. Hereby, thedischarging action becomes simple since essentially the whole extent ofthe wetting receptacle may be used as a grip.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the wetting fluid containerpresents a forward edge facing the catheter in the wetting receptacle;the area of weakness extends rearwardly from the forward edge; thecontainer comprises two tabs, of which a first tab extends laterallyrelative to the forward edge on a first side relative to the area ofweakness, and of which a second tab extends laterally from the forwardedge on a second, opposite side of the area of weakness relative to thefirst tab; wherein the application of a predetermined lateral pullingforce on the first tab relative to the second tab causes the area ofweakness to tear and the wetting fluid container to be opened.

[0023] The wetting apparatus according to this embodiment is easy tomanufacture, especially since the wetting fluid container may be fixeddirectly to the sides of the receptacle, whereby no additional and morecomplicated pulling means are neede.

[0024] In still another embodiment, the area of weakness in the wettingfluid container is extending in an oblique angle to a direction towardsthe catheter in the wetting receptacle. Preferably, the area of weaknessextends in about 45° angle relative to the direction towards thecatheter, but it may also be another angle, such as essentiallyperpendicular to this direction. It is in this embodiment preferred thatthe wetting fluid container presents a forward edge facing the catheterin the wetting receptacle and a rearward edge facing away from thecatheter in the wetting receptacle, whereby the area of weakness extendsbetween the forward and rearward edge; the container comprises two tabs,of which a first tab extends forwardly on the forward edge on the sideclosest to the area of weakness, and of which a second tab extendsrearwardly from the rearward edge on the side closest to the area ofweakness; and application of a predetermined rearward pulling force onthe first tab relative to the second tab causes the area of weakness totear and the wetting fluid container to be opened.

[0025] The wetting apparatus according to this embodiment is also easyto manufacture, since the wetting fluid container may be fixed directlyto the sides of the receptacle, whereby no additional and morecomplicated pulling means are needed. At the same time, a pullingdirection essentially aligned with the extension of the wettingapparatus may be used, which facilitates the opening process, especiallyfor disabled persons.

[0026] In preferred embodiments of the invention the fluid containertakes the form of a sachet.

[0027] It is further preferred that the wetting fluid is sterile wateror a saline solution.

[0028] A typical sterilising agent which could be used for sterilisingthe wetting apparatus of the invention is ethylene oxide. Moreover, thefluid in the fluid container would normally be sterile. For thesereasons, the wetting fluid container is preferably made of a materialwhich is impermeable or substantially impermeable to ethylene oxide aswell as the fluid contained therein. Non-limiting examples of materialssatisfying this condition when the fluid is water or saline arealuminium foil laminate, poly(vinylidene chloride) or a laminatecomprising metallised film such as metallised poly(ethyleneterepthalate), or a silicon oxide coated film.

[0029] The wetting receptacle according to the invention may be usedonly for keeping the catheter clean and sterile and for the describedwetting process, and is thereafter disposed. However, in one embodimentthe wetting receptacle is also a urine collection bag.

[0030] The present invention has the advantage of providing a safe,compact, sterile and disposable wetting apparatus for a hydrophilicurinary catheter, which is easy to handle. This is due to the provisionof a wetting receptacle which is adapted to cooperate with a wettingfluid container of the apparatus so as to be able to release the fluidinto the wetting receptacle to wet a hydrophilic urinary catheter placedtherein under clean conditions, that is to say, without the need fortouching the catheter or the fluid, or even breaking the receptacle.Hereby, the risk of introducing contaminants is avoided, and a wettingapparatus that is easy to handle as well as to manufacture is provided.

[0031] According to another, second aspect of the invention there isprovided a wetting receptacle containing: a wetting fluid containercontaining a wetting fluid; and a hydrophilic urinary catheter to bewetted by said wetting fluid, both being arranged within said wettingreceptacle, wherein the receptacle is movable from an initial closed andnon-extended first position to an extended but still closed secondposition.

[0032] According to one embodiment of this second aspect of theinvention, the wetting receptacle is at least partly formed of astretchable material, enabling bringing of the receptacle from the firstto the second position.

[0033] According to another embodiment of this second aspect of theinvention, the receptacle has an inherent elongation, enabling bringingof the receptacle from the first to the second position, and preferablythis inherent elongation comprises a bellow-like folding. Hereby, theexpandability is achieved without any special requirements on thematerial, which makes the manufacture simple and inexpensive.

[0034] It is further preferred that the receptacle, in the area of saidfolding, has an inner, cross-sectional extension perpendicular to thedirection of said inherent elongation significantly exceeding thecorresponding outer, cross-sectional extension of the wetting fluidcontainer.

[0035] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod for wetting a hydrophilic urinary catheter placed in a wettingreceptacle together with a wetting fluid container containing a wettingfluid, characterised by the step of applying a pulling force to thewetting receptacle, without opening the latter, for transferring thepulling force via the wetting receptacle to the wetting container toopen the latter and discharging the wetting fluid from the thus openedwetting fluid container into the still unopened wetting receptacle.

[0036] In an embodiment according to this third aspect of the inventionsaid transfer of the pulling force is accomplished by an elongation ofthe wetting receptacle. It is further preferred that the transfer of thepulling force is accomplished by the use of at least two pulling meansbeing fixed to the wetting receptacle, whereby the pulling force isapplied in such a way that the pulling means are pulled apart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] By way of example embodiments of the invention will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0038]FIG. 1 shows a wetting apparatus according to an embodiment of theinvention comprising a wetting receptacle and an unopened wetting fluidsachet.

[0039]FIG. 2 shows the part of the wetting apparatus shown in FIG. 1comprising the unopened sachet more in detail.

[0040]FIG. 3 shows the wetting apparatus shown in FIG. 1 where thewetting fluid sachet is in the opened position.

[0041]FIG. 4 shows the part of the wetting apparatus shown in FIG. 3comprising the unopened sachet more in detail.

[0042]FIG. 5 shows a wetting apparatus according to another embodimentof the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment of awetting apparatus 1 according to the invention comprising a wettingreceptacle, or bag 2, preferably of a transparent flexible plasticsmaterial. The receptacle 2 has a downwardly extending elongate pocket 21at the forward end, an intermediate chamber 22 rearwardly of and influid communication with the elongate pocket 21 and a fluid supplychamber 23 spaced further rearwardly.

[0044] The wetting apparatus further comprises a hydrophilic urinarycatheter 3 having a flared rearward portion 31, an elongate shaft 32projecting forwardly from the rearward portion 31 and an open-endedlumen (not shown) which extends from the rear end of the rearwardportion 31 to a drainage aperture 33 in the rounded tip 34. The rearwardend 31 of the catheter 3 is connectable to a urine collection bag.

[0045] Further, the wetting apparatus comprises a wetting fluidcontainer 4, which in this embodiment takes the form of a sachet,containing a wetting fluid. As can be seen more particularly byreference to FIG. 2, the sachet 4 is arranged in the fluid supplychamber 23 in an operational position. The sachet 4 has a forwardportion 41 which in the operational position of the sachet 4 faces thecatheter and the fluid receiving area 21 and a rearward portion 42 whichin the operational position projects rearwardly away from the catheterand the fluid receiving area 21. The sachet 4 is preferably made ofaluminium foil laminate, poly(vinylidene chloride) or a laminatecontaining a metallised film, such as metallised poly(ethyleneterepthalate), or a silicon oxide coated film, particularly whenethylene oxide is the sterilising agent for the apparatus 1 and thesachet contains sterile water or saline solution.

[0046] Preferably, the forward portion 41 of the sachet 4 presents aforward edge 43. Extending rearwardly from the forward edge 43 is anarea of weakness, and preferably a tear line 44. Projecting forwardlyfrom the forward edge 43 of the sachet to one side of the tear line 44is a first tab 45. On the other side of the tear line 44 there isprovided an elongate second tab 46, shown here in an extended positionin which the second tab 46 projects forwardly from the forward edge 43.The elongate second tab 46 is movable about the forward edge 43 back onit self from the extended position to a retracted position in which thesecond tab 46 extends rearwardly from the forward edge 43. When thesecond tab 46 is in the retracted position the sachet 4 is inserted intothe fluid supply chamber into the operational position shown in FIG. 1.

[0047] Preferably the dimensions of the second tab 46 are such that whenthe sachet 4 is in the operational position a pulling portion 47 of thesecond tab 46 projects rearwardly beyond a rearward edge 48 of thesachet 4.

[0048] The sachet is preferably fixed to the receptacle, but mostpreferably only in the vicinity of the pulling means, i.e. the tabs45,46. The fixation could be provided by means of welding, gluing ortaping, or a combination of these, but other fixation means could beused as well. Between the fixation points the fluid supply chamber 23 ofthe receptacle is provided with a surplus of material, resulting inbellow-like folded area 24. This folded area makes an easy elongation ofthe fluid supply chamber possible. The folded area is further preferablywider than the rest of the fluid supply chamber 23.

[0049] In FIGS. 3 and 4 the sachet 4 is shown in its opened position,where the contents of the sachet is released into the receptacle 2 towet the hydrophilic outer coating of the catheter 3.

[0050] In the method of wetting the catheter, the user applies a pullingforce to the wetting receptacle in such a way that the pulling force istransferred to the wetting container to open the same without rupturingthe sealed condition of the wetting receptacle. Preferably, the pullingforce is applied in such a way that the pulling means are pulled apartin a separation direction. This could e.g. be made in the following way,with the wetting apparatus described above. The user grips the first tab45 through the flexible transparent plastics material of the bag 2 andthen pulls rearwardly on the pulling portion 47 of the second tab 46,likewise through the flexible transparent plastics material of the bag2, to cause the tear line 44 to be torn and the wetting fluid to bereleased into the pocket 21 to wet the catheter 3. Preferably, thesachet 4 contains a sufficient amount of wetting fluid for the pocket 21to be filled to a level, which results in the insertable length of thecatheter 3 being wetted. By insertable length” is meant at least thatlength of the elongate shaft 32 which is coated with a hydrophilicmaterial, for example PVP, and inserted into the urethra of the patient.Typically, this will be 80-140 mm for a female patient and 200-350 mmfor a male patient.

[0051] After release of the wetting fluid into the pocket 21 thereceptacle is opened, preferably at a tearing section 27, where afterthe catheter is removed from the bag 21 and used for catherisation. Thereceptacle and sachet are then disposed of. To facilitate the removal ofthe catheter from the receptacle and the insertion into the urethra ofthe patient, at least one area of weakness 27, 28, such as a tear line,is preferably arranged on the receptacle in the area of fluid receivingpocket 21, in which the catheter is placed. Most preferably, two suchareas of weakness 27, 28 are provided, and separated in the lengthwisedirection of the receptacle. The intermediate part of the receptacle maybe used as an insertion aid for guiding and holding the wetted catheterwhen it is inserted into the urethra. There is therefore no need todirectly handle the catheter 3 for insertion thereof into the urethra,which is to advantage as the outer surface of the catheter 3 will beslippery due to the wetting procedure and therefore difficult to gripand furthermore because the possibility of contamination of the catheter3 at this stage is avoided, whereby the cleanness and sterility of thecatheter may be maintained.

[0052] The bag or receptacle 2 according to the invention is a closedbag with the sachet 4 and catheter 3 pre-packaged within the bag 2.

[0053] The catheter 3 could be sterilised using ethylene oxide. Sincethe sachet 4 contains sterile water or saline there is no need forsterilising the contents of the sachet 4. Accordingly, the material ofthe sachet 6 is preferably impermeable to ethylene oxide and water.Non-limiting examples of materials meeting these requirements arepoly(vinylidene chloride) (PVDC), aluminium foil laminates or a laminatecomprising a metallised film, for example metallised poly(ethyleneterepthalate), or a silicon coated film. Other sterilisation processescould of course be used instead, for example by irradiation in whichcase the fluid in the sachet 4 could be sterilised in situ at the sametime as the rest of the components of the apparatus 1. Steam treatmentmay also be used for sterilisation.

[0054] Other types and locations of sachets 4 inside the bag is possibleas long as the sachet 4 releases its contents into the pocket 21. Forexample it is possible to arrange the tear line 43 in an oblique angelrelative to the pulling direction. In this case the tearing line willextend essentially in the middle between the two pulling tabs.

[0055] Alternatively, it is possible to arrange the pulling tabslaterally on the sachet 4, and thus provide the pulling directionessentially perpendicular to the tearing line. In this case, however,the folding of the fluid supply chamber 23 has to be rearranged inanother direction as well.

[0056] The expandability of the fluid supply chamber could also beachieved in other ways, such as by the use of a stretchable material. Insuch a case it is possible to fix the wetting fluid container to thereceptacle along its entire surface, and still enable opening of thefluid container without destroying or causing ruptures to thereceptacle. However, by providing an area of the fluid container surfacewhich is not fixed to the receptacle, a less degree of stretchability isrequired.

[0057] Even though the receptacle according to the invention is sealed,it is however preferred that the receptacle 2 is provided with an outlet25, at least when ethylene oxide is the sterilising agent, as thisprovides a pathway for the ethylene oxide to enter and exit the insideof the receptacle.

[0058] In still another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the intermittentchamber 22′ of the receptacle 2 may be used as a urine bag. In thiscase, after wetting of the catheter 3 for the predetermined duration inthe same manner as described above, the bag 2 is turned upside down andthe forwardmost portion of the pocket 21 torn off. The elongate shaft 32of the catheter 3 is then maneuvered through the opening in the forwardend of the pocket 21 and pulled out until the flared rearward portion 31forms a mechanical seal connection with the opening at a restriction 29′of the receptacle. Thereafter the catheter is inserted into the urethraof the patient. Two separated areas of weakness 27′, 28′ may be used asan insertion aid even in this embodiment. However, in this case theareas of weakness should be placed beneath the restriction 29′. Exceptthe above mentioned differences, the same as discussed above regardingthe first embodiments applies to this alternative embodiment as well.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiments hereinabove described with referenceto drawings the supply of wetting fluid for wetting of the hydrophilicurinary catheter takes the form of a separate sachet integrated into thewetting receptacle, and being easily dischargeable without breaking orrupturing the receptacle. It will be appreciated by those versed in theart that several alternatives similar to those described above could beused without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as othertypes of fluid containers, different ways to provide the expandabilityof the receptacle etc.

1. A wetting apparatus (1) for wetting a hydrophilic urinary catheter(3), comprising: a wetting fluid container (4) containing a wettingfluid and being openable by the application of a pulling force thereto;a wetting receptacle (2); and a hydrophilic urinary catheter (3) to bewetted by said wetting fluid and being arranged within said wettingreceptacle (2), characterised in that the wetting fluid container (4) isarranged within the wetting receptacle (2), and that the wettingreceptacle is extendable, for opening the wetting container withoutrupturing a sealed condition of the wetting receptacle.
 2. A wettingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wetting fluid container isprovided with at least two pulling means (45,46) for applying saidpulling force for opening the container.
 3. A wetting apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the wetting fluid container is openable bypulling said pulling means (45,46) apart in a separation direction, saidwetting receptacle (2) being extendable at least in said separationdirection.
 4. A wetting apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein atleast one of the pulling means, and preferably both, is a tab (45,46)which on application of a predetermined pulling force thereto causes thewetting fluid container (4) to open.
 5. A wetting apparatus according toany one of the preceding claims, wherein the wetting fluid container (4)is fixed to the wetting receptacle (2).
 6. A wetting apparatus accordingto claim 5, wherein the wetting fluid container (4) has at least onesurface area not being fixed to the wetting receptacle (2).
 7. A wettingreceptacle according to claim 6 as appendant to claim 2, wherein thewetting fluid container (4) is fixed to the wetting receptacle (2) onlyin the vicinity of the pulling means (45,46).
 8. A wetting apparatusaccording to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wetting fluidcontainer (4) is fixed to the wetting receptacle (2) by means ofwelding.
 9. A wetting apparatus according to any one of the claims 5-8,wherein the wetting receptacle (2) comprises pulling means, such aspulling handles, to facilitate opening of the wetting fluid container(4).
 10. A wetting apparatus according to any one of the precedingclaims, wherein the wetting receptacle (2) is at least partly formed ofa stretchable material, enabling the extendibility of the receptacle.11. A wetting apparatus according to any one of the claims 1-9, whereinthe wetting receptacle (2) has a surface layer of such dimension as toenable the extendibility of the receptacle.
 12. A wetting apparatusaccording to claim 11 as appendant to claim 2, wherein said surfacelayer of the wetting receptacle (2) has a dimension between the pullingmeans (45,46) exceeding the distance between the pulling means, when thewetting fluid container is not opened.
 13. A wetting apparatus accordingto claim 11 or 12, wherein the wetting receptacle (2) comprises at leastone folded section (24), such as a bellow-like folding, to make thereceptacle extendable.
 14. A wetting apparatus according to claim 13,wherein the wetting receptacle (2) has such a restricted dimensionperpendicular to the pulling direction in which said folded section (24)is unfolded, that said unfolding is not restricted by the wetting fluidcontainer (4).
 15. A wetting apparatus according to claim 14, whereinthe wetting receptacle (2), at said folded section (24) has an inner,cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to the extension direction ofthe receptacle (4) significantly exceeding the corresponding outer,cross-sectional dimension of the wetting fluid container.
 16. A wettingapparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein thewetting fluid container (4) comprises an area of weakness (44),preferably a tear line, which is opened on the application of thepulling force thereto.
 17. A wetting apparatus according to claim 16,wherein the area of weakness (44) in the wetting fluid container (4) isarranged in a part of the container facing the catheter (3) in thewetting receptacle (2).
 18. A wetting apparatus according to claim 17 asappendant to claim 4, wherein the wetting fluid container (4) presents aforward edge (43) facing the catheter (3) in the wetting receptacle (2);the area of weakness (44) extends rearwardly from the forward edge (43);the wetting container comprises two tabs of which a first tab (46)extends rearwardly from the forward edge on a first side of the area ofweakness and is of such dimensions that it rearwardly projects beyondthe wetting fluid container, and of which a second tab (45) extendsforwardly from the forward edge on a second, opposite side of the areaof weakness (44); wherein the application of a rearward pulling force onthe first tab (46) relative to the second tab (45) causes the area ofweakness (44) to tear and the wetting fluid container to be opened. 19.A wetting apparatus according to claim 17 as appendant to claim 4,wherein the wetting fluid container presents a forward edge (43) facingthe catheter (3) in the wetting receptacle (2); the area of weakness(44) extends rearwardly from the forward edge (43); the containercomprises two tabs, of which a first tab extends laterally relative tothe forward edge on a first side relative to the area of weakness, andof which a second tab extends laterally from the forward edge on asecond, opposite side of the area of weakness relative to the first tab;wherein the application of a predetermined lateral pulling force on thefirst tab relative to the second tab causes the area of weakness (44) totear and the wetting fluid container to be opened.
 20. A wettingapparatus according to claim 16, wherein the area of weakness (44) inthe wetting fluid container (4) is extending at an oblique angle to adirection towards the catheter in the wetting receptacle.
 21. A wettingapparatus according to claim 20 as appendant to claim 4, wherein thewetting fluid container (4) presents a forward edge (43) facing thecatheter (3) in the wetting receptacle (2) and a rearward edge (48)facing away from the catheter in the wetting receptacle (2), whereby thearea of weakness (44) extends between the forward and rearward edge; thecontainer comprises two tabs, of which a first tab extends forwardly onthe forward edge on the side closest to the area of weakness, and ofwhich a second tab extends rearwardly from the rearward edge on the sideclosest to the area of weakness; and application of a predeterminedrearward pulling force on the first tab relative to the second tabcauses the area of weakness (44) to tear and the wetting fluid containerto be opened.
 22. A wetting apparatus according to any one of thepreceding claims, wherein the wetting fluid container (4) takes the formof a sachet.
 23. A wetting apparatus according to any one of thepreceding claims, wherein the wetting fluid is sterile water or a salinesolution.
 24. A wetting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein thewetting fluid container (4) is impermeable to ethylene oxide and wateror saline solution.
 25. A wetting apparatus according to any one of thepreceding claims, wherein the wetting fluid container (4) is made ofaluminium foil laminate, poly(vinylidene chloride) or a laminatecomprising a metallised film, such as metallised poly(ethyleneterepthalate), or a silicon oxide coated film.
 26. A wetting apparatusaccording to any one of the claims above, wherein the wetting receptacle(2) is a urine collection bag.
 27. A wetting receptacle (2) containing:a wetting fluid container (4) containing a wetting fluid; and ahydrophilic urinary catheter (3) to be wetted by said wetting fluid,both being arranged within said wetting receptacle (2), characterised inthat the receptacle (2) is movable from an initial closed andnon-extended first position to an extended but still closed secondposition.
 28. A wetting receptacle according to claim 27, wherein it isat least partly formed of a stretchable material, enabling bringing ofthe receptacle from the first to the second position.
 29. A wettingreceptacle according to claim 27, wherein it has a surface layer of suchdimensions as to enable bringing of the receptacle from the first to thesecond position.
 30. A wetting receptacle according to claim 29, whereinit comprises a folded section (24), such as a bellow-like folding.
 31. Awetting receptacle according to claim 30, wherein at said folded sectionit has an inner, cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to a movingdirection in bringing the receptacle (2) to the extended second positionsignificantly exceeding the corresponding outer, cross-sectionalextension of the wetting fluid container (4).
 32. A method for wetting ahydrophilic urinary catheter (3) placed in a wetting receptacle (2)together with a wetting fluid container (4) containing a wetting fluid,characterised by the step of applying a pulling force to the wettingreceptacle (2), without opening the latter, for transferring the pullingforce via the wetting receptacle to the wetting container (4) to openthe latter and discharging the wetting fluid from the thus openedwetting fluid container into the still unopened wetting receptacle. 33.A method for wetting according to claim 32, wherein said transfer of thepulling force is accomplished by an elongation of the wetting receptacle(2).
 34. A method for wetting according to claim 32 or 33, wherein saidtransfer of the pulling force is accomplished by the use of at least twopulling means (45,46) being fixed to the wetting receptacle (2), wherebythe pulling force is applied in such a way that the pulling means arepulled apart.